Sheet-metal doob ob partition construction



C. A. BETZ SHEET METAL DOOR OR PARTITIDN CONSTRUCVTION APPLCATION FILED AUG.29. 1919.

I Patented June 15 1920 T TORNE Y UNITED STTES CHARLES .A. BETZ,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patctcd Jme 15, 1920.

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,6B5.

To all whom it 'may (-onccrn:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BE'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Jersey City, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet-MetaI Door or Partition Con structions, of which the followirg is a specification.

The invention is an improvement in sheet metal door or partition constructions, such as are used, for example, for toilet pa'rti .tionsf The object is to provide a construction which shall be rigid or non-buckling, and at the same time simple and easily fabricated and assembled. This is accomplished bv a combination of a boxed frame member, slotted and provided with internal divergent lips, a panel sheet entered in the slot and between the lips, and a channeled locking strip with convergent sides compressively embracing the lips, as will hereimfter be more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof: 4

F igre 1 is a horizontal section through a part of a toilet partition structure of the type disclosed in my Patent 1,304,013 of Ma 20,1919;

ig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional perspective of the door of F ig. 1; and

ig. 3 is a` View of a corner of the partly in elevation and partly broken away and in section.

A partition structure such as shown in F ig. 1 comprises a plurality of partitions proper 1 and doors 2 hung between ;the

fronts of the partitions. As *disclosedin my' prior patent the partitions are united at the front to T-shaped post members 3 and at the back to similar irons 4, which are Secured to the wall. Each partition comprises front and back stiles 5 and a anel sheet G. These stiles are formed eaci of two separate halves, having flanges 7 which are spot- Welded 'to the flange 8 of the 'support between them. The doors consist each of a panel sheet6', framed 'by stiles 5' and rails 5. The invention is applicable; as ills tmd, to both the partitions and 'the doors. V reas in' my prior patent the stiles and raif fltly embraced the panel sheets, I .now

are conrcrgently inclincd as indicated door,

?that the lock strip,

make these frame form, with their wider than the sheets.

parte of hollow fboxed nterors substantially Each of said menibers is slo'tted centrally alon its inner side,

that is to say the side toward the center of the panel, for the rece )tion of the marginal portion of the sheet. ntcrnally and at opposite sides of the plane of he slot, the hollow stile `or rail is provided with a, pair of inclined lips 9 which exteid logitudinally of the member and diverge latcrally from each other and away .from the entrance of the slot. In the preferred Construction these lips are integral with the wall of the frame part, being formed by bending the metal inwardly C the inclosire from the sides of a the slot.

Said lips are clasped by a chanieled lock strip 10, the forward side portions of which at 11 to hook under the lips in face contact therewith. This strip is driven cndwise onto the lips, requiring to be forced somewhat open for the purpose` and is of sutficiently heavy and resilient material so that when in place it exerts a substantial clamping pressure on the lips, holding the sidcs of the slot tight against the panel sheet. The widest region of the lock strip is across the edges of the lips, and the engagement of the inclined faces not only forms a superior clamp for the lips but draws the rear part of the chan nel against the edges of the lips and thereby prerents loosen'ing of the lock. The chan nel strip' is preferably made substantially deeper than the lips and may he of the ap` proximate lozenge form shown. Its convex ack, that is to say the bottom of the chaniel,may constitutc an ahutment for the edge of the sheet, which is shown extending inwardly beyond the lips. 'It will be pcrceived the edge .of-the ianel. and the li s do not have to be made or an exact or cose fit, as the clamping efl'ect of the lock on the inclined lips rendere the device self-ad'usting through certain limits.

What I c aim as new is:

1. A sheet metaldoor or partition construction, comprising a boxed frame -part having its with internal diverging inclncd lips, a panel inner side slotted and provded sheet entered in the slot and between the sheet entered in the slut, and a channeled lips, end a channeled lock strip having conlock strip widest across the edges 'ef the Iips 10 vergng inciined side portions in clas 'mg ami havuga oonvex back projecting rearfce contact with thedive-ging inclined ips. wardly the lps and conver ent in- 5 2. A sheet metal door 01' partitio oonclied fo'i'wrd side portons hooke under truetion, comprising boxed frame part the diver'get i nclined lips iq clasping face having its inne" side slotted and provded oontacfle'mwth. i i

vyith internal diveging in clined lips, a panel CHARLES A. BETZ. 

